So simple, so effective!

Eliminating an overgrowth of

Candida albicans recharges the liver and calms intense cravings to make slimming effortless—and all it takes is consuming 1 tsp. of turmeric (or roughly 1,000 mg of its active ingredient curcumin) per day. “Turmeric has phenomenal properties and many benefits,” asserts Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D., an integrative physician and medical director of the Center for New Medicine in Irvine, California. “For women with a candida overgrowth, it’s a potent antiyeast treatment.”

For best results, Dr. Connealy recommends pairing turmeric with black pepper—the spice has been shown to increase the body’s ability to absorb the active compound curcumin by as much as 1,000 percent. Simply add 1⁄4 tsp. of black pepper for every 1 tsp. of turmeric in your recipe. And for even greater effects, enjoy your turmeric-spiked meals with vitamin C–rich foods like bell peppers, broccoli, leafy greens, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Studies show that curcumin is up to 10 times more effective against candida when it’s taken in tandem with vitamin C.

While you only need to enjoy

1 tsp. of turmeric each day to get the candida-fighting benefits, holistic nutritionist Michelle Schoffro Cook, Ph.D., says there’s very little risk of experiencing negative effects from eating “too much” ground turmeric— in fact studies suggest the more you eat, the better it works. To get started cooking with turmeric, try any of the delicious ideas at right.

Before you begin: Experts report that curcumin—both in whole food and supplement form—may slow blood clotting. As a result, a turmericrich diet is not recommended for women who have a bleeding disorder or are on prescription anticoagulants, like Warfarin or Plavix.